North Dakota Boys State

I mentioned in the newsletter that there would be information about this on the blog...well, I left the brochure with the information at my office...so I will get this information updated as soon as possible! Sorry for the inconvenience!

NDSU-Expanding Your Horizons-Grades 7-9

NDSU is hosting a Career Exploration Day for young women in grades 7-9. It will be held April 11th. Please contact me if you are interested in attending this event.

Student Loan Repayment Plans

For students interested in automotive or diesel technology there are two Student Loan Repayment Plans available for you to consider.

CARS (sponsored by the Automobile Dealers Association of ND) & PLOW (sponsored by the ND Implement Dealers Association) are both available for students who graduate from an appropriate technical program, and who become employed by an automobile dealer who participates with one of these programs.

The information below applies to both the CARS & the PLOW programs:

• Student meets with a participating dealer to discuss potential job opportunities.
• Dealer discusses with the student the type of education that would be most appropriate for the position being sought by the student.
• Student enrolls in school and begins an appropriate course of study. The student is responsible for acquiring adequate funding.
• Upon graduation the student can apply for employment with participating dealerships. if the student is hired by a participating dealership, the student may be entitled to participate in the CARS or PLOW student loan repayment programs. At the end of the first full year of full-time employment, the dealership will make a $1,500 payment to the financial institution holding the student'l loan. As long as the student continues to work for the dealership, this process will continue for nine additional years. However at the end of years 6-10, the student loan payment will increase to $2500 per year. This adds up to $20,000 in payment! 

For brochures, a list of participating dealerships or additional information please contact Melinda Martin at 701-566-2688 or melinda@adand.com, or visit the following websites:

www.ndida.com/plow
www.adand.com/cars

Scholarship Scams

Another scam has been brought to my attention...I believe it has been coming through email and it seems that the main target is parents of juniors. The message asks for $60 to provide scholarship information. Regardless of the request...it is very important for you to know that you should NEVER pay anything to get scholarship information or scholarship money (in other words, never pay money to get money). This is a pretty good sign of a scam. Another sign of a scam is when they "guarantee" that you will receive scholarship money. Please be careful...there are many scams floating around. If you ever question it, please contact me before providing any personal information or making a payment!

New Scholarship Opportunity through Dollars for Scholars

Seniors have been provided some information about this as well as 2 other new scholarships available through Dollars for Scholars. So just wanted to send out a reminder that there are only two weeks left for students to apply for the new NDCAN-NDDFS Scholarship.  One scholarship will be awarded to a student at each NDDFS chapter (which of course means one of our students will receice this scholarship, so be sure to apply if eligable!).

North Dakota College Access Network (NDCAN) has established this new scholarship in an effort to provide low income students with funding for college.  To qualify, students must be a high school senior, living in a Dollars for Scholars community, and have economic need.  A complete list of eligibility  criteria is on the application which students have been provided.  Applications and additional information are also available at www.nddfs.org. The deadline for this scholarship is March 31, 2011.  Application can be filled out online, printed and returned to me by March 28th to be sent on to the state office.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

US Naval Academy Summer Programs for Middle & High School Students

US Naval Academy Summer Seminar
This program is a fast-paced, six-day experience for high school achievers who have completed their junior year of high school. This is an opportunity to learn about life at the naval Academy. This is great  for students who think they might be intereseted in pusuing a military career with any of the nation's service academies.

Tuition to attend is approx. $400 which pays for room & board, as well as a variety of materials plus a little spending cash for snacks and souveniers. Student is also repsonsible for arranging and paying the cost of transportation to and from the Naval Academy.

Last day to apply is March 31st. For more information and to apply online, go to: http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/nass.htm

Naval Academy Summer STEM Program (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics)
This is a program for rising 8th-11th graders and offers an opportunity to learn more about STEM careers. Students must demonstrate superior academic performance including GPA, class standing, and/or strong PSAT, SAT or ACT results. Selection is based largely on ensuring geographical representation (students from all 50 states). All applicants will be notified of their status by early May.

All STEM participants will receive a full scholarship to attend the program which includes room & board, meals, as well as a variety of materials. Participants should bring extra cash for snacks and souvenirs, and are responsible for arranging and paying for transportation to and from the Naval Academy.

Grade level dates are as follows:
June 6-11-----8th & 9th (current 7th & 8th graders)
June 13-16---10th (current 9th graders)
June 20-25---11th (current 10th graders)

Last day to apply is April 14th. For more information and to apply online, go to: http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/stem.html

Youth Conservation Corps Summer Employment Opportunity

The Valley City National Fish Hatchery will be hiring one Youth Conservation Corps worker (enrollee) for summer 2011. Enrollee will work up to 8 weeks (320 total hours) throughout the summer and schedule will be negotiated to accommodate vacations and school/sports activities. Wage will be $7.25 per hour.

Duties include: cleaning pond kettles, grass/weed trimming around pond kettles and valves, lawn care, trail maintenance and janitorial duties. Enrollee will also provide assistance with fish culture activities: fingerling harvest, and daily feeding and cleaning of tanks.

Requirements are:
1.) Must be at least 15 years of age prior to start of program and not have reached 19 years of age by July 29, 2011.
2.) A permanent resident of the United States.
3.) Have or have applied for a social security card before the first working day of the YCC program.

Applications must be received by close of business, Tuesday, April 12, 2011. The selection process will be conducted by a random method on Wednesday, April 13th at the hatchery. Selected applicants will be notified by mail and/or phone, if selected.

If interested contact me for an application or call (701) 845-3464.

BEWARE...Possible SAT Scam!

I received a message about a possible scam regarding testing prep materials for the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test). From what I understand, a caller claiming to be with SAT is contacting parents stating that they have useful information which will help their child score higher on the SAT. They ask for $129.00 to provide you with the information. The actual provider of the SAT materials is The College Board not SAT...and, most students in the midwest will use the ACT (American College Test) for college admissions rather than the SAT. Please, DON'T be scammed!

If you are interested in test prep materials, please contact me and I will provide you with contact and ordering information. Please be careful and suspisious of these sorts of calls.

Respect is "Popping Up" Winners!

The 6th grade are the winners of the popcorn party for being the first class to earn all their respect slips. Each grade was in a race to get "caught" being respectful 28 times. Teachers had their own set of rules for students earning slips. Some did not allow the same student to earn a second slip for the same act of respect that they had already been caught for. This increased the learning as they needed to learn more and more ways of showing respect to others. This seems to have been a successful activity. The competition was a close one, as 5th graders were only short 4 slips when the 6th graders took the win! The 6th grade class will enjoy their popcorn party on Tuesday, March 8th. It would be great to hear from you as to whether or not you have seen any differences with your child since this competition began. Email me or post a comment here :)

R-Cool-Health Acadamy for Grades 6-8

The University of North Dakota Rural Collaborative Opportunities for Occupational Learning in Health     (R-COOL-Health) Scrubs Academy is a new three day/three night camp that will be held on the               University of North Dakota campus from June 19-22, 2011.  It is open to ND students in grades 6-8.

The Scrubs Academy will focus on encouraging middle school students from all across ND to pursue a      career in  health care. Students will take part in the following activities:

Hands-on activities and information provide by health professionals
Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Training
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Training 

More information about the R-COOL-Health Scrubs Academy, including and agenda for the 3 days and    the application form, may be found at http://ruralhealth.und.edu/topics/workforce/scrubsacademy/.